Take 12: Making business out of digital innovation

In an effort to help UK film companies navigate their way through the brave new world of digital, the UK Film Council (UKFC) has teamed up with the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) to create Take 12 - a digital innovation programme designed to encourage independent UK film companies to embrace digital technology and make money.

The programme works by pairing 12 film businesses, with digital consultancy experts - innovation partners - who will allocate approximately $75,000 (£40,000) worth of their time to each participant.

Over the next year Screen will be profiling and charting the progress of the 12 film businesses taking part in the programme.

This month we start with London based contemporary digital arts organisation onedotzero, who have paired up with innovation partner Huge Entertainment.

Set up in 1996 by Shane Walter and Matt Hanson at the start of the desktop digital revolution, onedotzero’s remit is to ‘promote innovation across all forms of moving image and motion arts’.

Funded by the Arts Council, its activities include public events, artist and content development, publishing, education, production, creative direction and consultancy services, as well as a DVD label.

onedotzero produces an international network of events, including its touring audio-visual festival - onedotzero adventures in motion -which showcases new ideas and up-and-coming talents around the world.

This year’s edition has just commenced its international tour, following festivals in Buenos Aires in September and at the BFI Southbank in November.

‘onedotzero was selected as one of the 12 participant film businesses in the NESTA/UK Film Council Digital Innovation in Film programme on account of their huge appetite for exploring digital technology and its potential to affect both the creation and consumption of ideas in growing their business’, says Haidee Bell from NESTA.

‘Through discussions to date with their chosen project Innovation Partner, it is apparent that there is considerable potential for onedotzero to develop its position in the face of these changes and remain at the forefront of innovation in this field’, she adds.

For interview with Shane Walter and Karl Aussia of onedotzero click here

For interview with Morgan Holt, Huge Entertainment click here